Pakistan: A blind Catholic acquitted after years under blasphemy accusation

In Pakistan, a court has just acquitted a blind Catholic man who faced the death penalty for blasphemy against Islam. A rare surge of justice in one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians.

The Fact

In Pakistan, a court has just acquitted a blind Catholic man who was facing the death penalty for "blasphemy against Islam." The man had been arrested and prosecuted under Pakistan's anti-blasphemy laws, among the harshest in the world. His acquittal, reported by Le Salon Beige, marks a rare judicial decision in favor of a Christian in such a case.

Our Perspective

Pakistan has one of the most oppressive legal arsenals against religious minorities. Christians, who make up about 2% of the population, are regularly targeted by these laws, which are often used to settle personal disputes or extort property. Open Doors ranks Pakistan among the ten most dangerous countries for Christians in its World Watch List. Every acquittal is an event worth noting: Asia Bibi, sentenced to death in 2010, had to wait eight years before obtaining justice and leaving the country for her safety. The fragility of this acquittal must be emphasized: the pressure from Islamists on judges is well-documented, and several acquitted defendants have had to flee immediately. That the accused is blind adds to the cruelty of a persecution that recognizes neither weakness nor innocence.

For Reflection

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you" (Mt 5:11). The persecution of Christians in South Asia is not an abstract reality: it has a face, a disability, a detention. May our Pakistani brothers not be forgotten in our prayers, and may our voices not remain silent before their judges.